News & market updates

Colombo CCPI headline inflation held at 2.1% year-on-year in December 2025, while month-on-month prices rose 1.26% largely due to food supply disruptions from Cyclone Ditwah. Core inflation accelerated to 2.7% and projections expect a gradual rise towards 5%.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 41.7% year-on-year in 2025, closing 0.79% higher at 22,624.31 on Dec 31. Capital goods, food & beverage and banking led turnover, with John Keells, Senkadagala Finance, ACL Cables, Sampath Bank and HNB Assurance among top contributors; net foreign outflow was Rs103 million.

Aggregate profits of 273 listed companies fell 12% YoY to Rs.176.5 billion in Sep-25, ending a seven-quarter growth streak. Banks (Rs.52bn, +39% YoY) and diversified financials (Rs.39bn, +112% YoY) underpinned a QoQ rebound, while food, beverage & tobacco and capital goods posted steep declines.

Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC has been invited to be Patron of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka Supply Chain Working Group, recognising its sustainable supply-chain role; 71% of its 2024/25 supplier spend (Rs.14,494m of Rs.20,440m) was with local suppliers.

A 26-member Sri Lankan delegation, including Cargills (CARG.N0000), Hayleys (HAYL.N0000) and CIC (CIC.N0000), participated at FoodAG 2025 in Karachi (25–27 Nov 2025) to pursue sourcing, distribution and trade partnerships. Meetings covered livestock import regulation talks and efforts to strengthen trade under the Pakistan–Sri Lanka FTA.

Singer Sri Lanka PLC has opened 'Signature by Singer', a premium home-and-living showroom at the Singer Flagship Store, One Galle Face Mall, in partnership with Malaysia's Signature Group. The space showcases kitchens, wardrobes, bedroom and bathroom solutions to expand Singer's premium home-solutions offering.

United Motors Lanka PLC donated Rs. 10 million to the 'Rebuilding Sri Lanka' Fund to support reconstruction and livelihoods recovery after Cyclone Ditwah.

Colombo Stock Exchange rose 1.49% as the ASPI closed 313.56 points higher at 22,445.89, led by gains in Colombo Dockyard, Melstacorp, HNB and Commercial Bank. Market turnover fell to 3.4 billion rupees and net foreign outflow was 36.73 million rupees, led by John Keells.

Dividend · Rs 0.31 · XD Jan 9, 2026

Third Interim dividend of LKR 0.31/share; XD 2026-01-09; record 2026-01-11; payable 2026-01-23; FY 2025/26

Cyclone Ditwah has inflicted widespread damage in Sri Lanka, with reconstruction costs estimated up to US$7 billion and GDP growth seen slowing to about 3% in 2026. Business confidence fell (BCI down from 189 to 164) and the government has sought US$200m in IMF emergency aid.

Hunter & Company PLC has appointed advertising veteran Ranil de Silva as an Independent Non-Executive Director; he led Publicis Groupe Sri Lanka for 18 years and held senior roles at Leo Burnett and JWT.

The Science and Technology Ministry revived Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) in 2025 and launched pilot RIA studies across eight regulatory agencies (including the Insurance Regulatory Commission, Consumer Affairs Authority and Sri Lanka Tea Board) with UNIDO support. The pilots aim to embed evidence-based rulemaking to reduce regulatory uncertainty and improve investor confidence.

Singer Sri Lanka PLC opened 'Signature by Singer', a premium home-and-living showroom at the Singer Flagship Store, One Galle Face Mall, in partnership with Malaysia's Signature Group. The showroom showcases kitchens, wardrobes, bedroom and home-office solutions and is open daily.

George Steuart & Company joined a CWEIC delegation to Nigeria and Kenya to explore trade and expansion opportunities across tea, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, digital trade and other sectors. The visit included the Manufacturing Africa CEO Forum, KIAC meeting, an Equity Group roadshow and meetings with Lagos officials and industry partners.

Public advised to beware online purchase scams where fraudsters on platforms like Facebook, Ikman and WhatsApp sell goods at below-market prices and demand advance payments (Rs. 5,000–20,000); avoid advance payments, use COD or inspect items, verify sellers (video call), and report fraud to the police.

Port City Colombo marks 11 years as CHEC reiterates progress, announcing commissioning of public utility connections to Colombo’s grid and citing over USD 1bn in land development investments, including a USD 120m marina by Browns Investments (LOLC group).

EDB’s National Packaging Centre hosted an EU food labelling legislation workshop for over 110 exporters, providing guidance on EU market requirements and mandatory labelling components. The workshop covered allergen and nutrition labelling, ingredient and quantity marking, energy/%RI calculations and implementation of compliant labels.

GREE Airtech opened a flagship showroom in Nawala on 22 Dec 2025 and launched two new air-conditioner models: the Joywind floor-standing inverter and the Clivia (available in four colours, with AI climate optimisation and UV sterilisation).

Colombo Stock Exchange opened mixed: ASPI rose 0.29% to 22,132.33 while the S&P SL20 slipped 0.06% to 6,037.79 on turnover of about Rs. 3.7bn and net foreign outflows of Rs. 200.5m. Colombo Dockyard, DFCC and Richard Pieris led gains while John Keells and Commercial Bank fell.

Colombo Dockyard and banking shares lifted the CSE All Share Price Index 0.29%, with the ASPI closing at 22,132.33 and Colombo Dockyard the top gainer at 171.75 rupees. Market turnover fell to 3.7 billion rupees and the exchange recorded a net foreign outflow of 200.46 million rupees led by John Keells.

S&P Global says global credit conditions should remain resilient into 2026, supported by steady growth, easing interest rates and investor demand, but warns of uneven sector outlooks and risks from potential overinvestment in AI-driven data centres. It forecasts 3.2% global growth and a US speculative-grade default rate easing to 4% by Sept 2026.

Vehicle sales in Sri Lanka fell about 50% after Cyclone Ditwah, and auto importers are seeking relief from a 3%/month penalty on vehicles unsold after three months, requesting a six-month extension. Importers say they face ~10% loan interest, declining import volumes and rupee volatility.

Ceylon Cold Stores PLC (CCS) won the Winner Award at the Sri Lanka National Quality Awards 2023 in the Large Manufacturing category, presented by SLSI on 11 November 2025.

At SLABA's flagship forum, apparel industry leaders warned the sector is on fragile stability and urged immediate structural reforms to boost exports and productivity; speakers cautioned exchange-rate volatility, interest-rate risk and weak domestic demand could force macro adjustments.

EDB's National Packaging Centre held an EU food labelling legislation workshop for over 110 exporters, providing guidance on mandatory labelling (product descriptions, ingredients, allergens, nutrition, quantity marking) and practical energy/%RI calculations to help exporters produce compliant labels.

Gree Airtech Pvt Ltd opened a GREE flagship store at No. 378, Araliya Gardens, Nawala on 22 December 2025. The agent also launched two new AC models — the Joywind floor-standing inverter for large spaces and the Clivia with AI-driven climate optimisation, UV sterilisation and multiple smart controls.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed Friday with the ASPI up 0.50% (109.79 pts) to 22,068.84, re-entering the 22,000 mark. Turnover was over Rs.2.7bn, foreign investors were net buyers (Rs.18.9m), with banking counters and names like DOCK and RICH among top contributors.

Vikyno became the market-leading 2-wheel tractor in Sri Lanka in November 2025 with 99 units registered (up from 53 in October and 33 in September). The Vikyno is advertised online by Brown and Company and Singer Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Christmas cake inflation rose 4.4% in 2025 amid rupee depreciation, with the cost of 11 key ingredients up to 15,180 rupees from 14,744 in 2024. The rupee fell to 306.30/USD over 12 months and Colombo CPI rose 2.1% to November 2025 amid central bank exchange-rate interventions.

Colombo market closed marginally up with the ASPI +0.15% to 21,959.05, as John Keells Holdings crossings accounted for about 34% of turnover (total turnover > Rs.4.1bn); foreign investors were net sellers of Rs.331.3m.